Art

  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • Hotei
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Standing Tara
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Bodhidharma
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • State Oracle Garment
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Padmasambhava
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • Six Persimmons
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • Budai
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • Head of a Monk
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
  • Standing Buddha
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • Travel Shrine
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Bust of a Luohan
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Praying Priest
  • Dharmapala Yama
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • Stupa
  • Gazelle
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Head of a Buddha
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • The Four Excursions
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Stupa
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • Buddhist Monk
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)

The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)

The Mongol ruler Altan Khan conferred the title of Dalai Lama (“Ocean-like Teacher”) on the head of the Gelug School in 1578.

After the lama's death, his reincarnation was found to be the son of a Mongol prince, thus further consolidating the ties between the Gelug School and its Mongol patrons. The child was recognized as the 4th Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617). 

In this standardized portrayal, the 4th Dalai Lama sits upon a throne. To his right, we see the monastery of Sera, where he was abbot. Appearing in a vision at the top left is his teacher, Panchen Lama Lobzang Choki Gyaltsen (1570–1662). Three protective deities wreathed in flames surround the Dalai Lama.